Official Dir en grey Thread

[sexysaucestar]

Is that Die in the first two pictures? Choking people, tsk tsk. He looks short beside that dude in the first picture, but I know Die isn't short o_O Hmm..

Is that Shinya in the last picture? Looks a little scary o_o;;

[Dreamland]

lol welp she said it was him and I think it kinda looks like him but I dont know how tall die is

now I know for sure thats shinya though it looks like he just woke up

isnt it his birthday or somethin I forgot

[sexysaucestar]

^ I think Shinya's birthday was actually this past Saturday...same day as my dad's birthday

I just got my Japanese copy of the album from Yesasia...and got a nice surprise! Received a "clear file" folder along with my First Press Edition Did anyone else get this, too?

[paper_doll]

^ What is that exactly? I've been hearing about it.

Thanks for the other pictures


And: Dir (some? all?) will be on Steven's Untitled Rock Show on Fuse at 7 tonight.

[sexysaucestar]

Originally Posted by paper_doll

^ What is that exactly? I've been hearing about it.

I'll take a picture of it for you all I don't think the Yesasia page said that the Clear File would come with the album....I opened my package today and was very pleasantly surprised to see the file wrapped around my CD.

And: Dir (some? all?) will be on Steven's Untitled Rock Show on Fuse at 7 tonight.

I haven't heard of this show before o_o I hope someone will Youtube it or upload somewhere...

[Dreamland]

Fuse interview (forgot who it came from)

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xWbBTagW-0

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8liZKSp1IWc

I havent seen the fuse interview yet (slow comp)

-------------------------

and also another interview from Sonic Seducer translated by in_monochrome on livejournal (link: http://in-monochrome.livejournal.com/25370.html)

Unforgettable stays Dir en greys entrance last year at Rock am Ring before Deftones, Korn, Tool and Guns 'N Roses on the huge mainstage. Even today not only the Japanese staff talks about this exceptional-performance of the exotic rocktunes (I really hate usage of trend English in German texts! x__x) Kaoru, Die (both guitar), bassist Toshiya and drummer Shinya as well as the rabiesly self-destruction performance of vocalist Kyo. The whole music-cricus is exicted to see the evolution of these superstars (2007 at the Wacken Open Air), who will release their newest work "The Marrow Of A Bone" in March. Finally we got the band to ask them questions to make Dir en grey and J-rock accessible to us.


Could you see at least a bit of the Federal Republic besides than stages and hotels while your last Germany tour?
Shinya: It's very important to me to walk around very much, to take a look at the city and their historical buildings and to simply get the feeling for the area. Everyone in our band manages that different: The one sleeps or dawdles all the time inside the hotel, the other one simply goes on sightseeing.

How do you get along with the German traditions?
Die: At the beginning we had simply no image what would wait for us, but then we discovered that Germany and Japan are quite familiar to each other. Mental maybe even more close as one is i.e. to Americans. By now we even eat the domestic food, drink German beer and know your traditions. Slowly we're getting used to it and it almost feels nature for us.

What's your state in your home country? Some underground bands can't live of their arts and have to job somewhere else as well...
Toshiya: Are you joking? We really have no time for other jobs, cause we're too busy with Dir en grey. Although there are many talented musicians in Japan who have to work in their freetime i.e. at a gas station, while others became millionaires through their music. We're standing between these millionaires and those workaholics - that's what I'd say - and we're lucky with it.

How is the reception of J-rock in Japan? Does it count as rebellious?
Die: The term J-rock is very complex and includes some under-fields, we don't wanna know about this describtion. There are really huge acts with millions, but also an extreme underground community. Even though it's more a thing of the music industry. J-rock is really popular in Japan, but it hasn't changed anything about the culture yet. By now it got almost as usual as wearing a T-shirt.

Does no one reacts shocked, because of these tattooed musicians who sing about things like death?
Kyo: Well, actually. Especially older people react shocked, because of our look, our music or my self-destruction (self-hurting...? @.@) on stage. But I believe that is a natural circle. Our grandparents surely also disliked the music of our parents. We maybe just strengthen the visual in our generation. But we never wanted to be Everybody's Darling.

What do Dir en greys lyrics refer to? Are they more a carrier of a message or is it just because the entertainment?
Kyo: We write our music with a message to the fans. All lyrics are written by myself and it's mostly about pain, suffer and despairing, emotions that actually most humans want to hide inside themselves. I try to write my alternating hot and cold baths of feelings down, so the chaos inside my mind. So my lyrics are actually very personal.

How big is the rivalry in the J-rock scene really?
Die: We all hate each other. (loud laughing) We're not really a media-friendly band...
Toshiya: One has to see it positive: The competition is actually extreme, but it supports the mutual growing. It's like a challenge. Everyone wants to be different and that strengths the quality in that category. Just very less bands are friends with each other.

Many bands have exchanged this extreme androgen look of their beginning for an casual, daily-friendly, prettier look. Does that mean the music becomes more the focus?
Die: Yes, absolutely! I remember shows with extravagant outfits and high heels it was almost impossible to play guitar with. It works excellent with our recent outfits. But: We never wanted to be ugly. Music was always the main reason for us, but when people start liking something about us we immediately throw it overboard and search for something new. That counts for our outfits as for our music. If someone wants to have harder songs we will make exactly the opposite - but have success anyway.

Are there typical Japanese elements in your music?
Kaoru: Everything that sounds mysterious in any kind of way might be original Japanese, but not traditional.

Often one can recognize J-rock band, because of their melodic, melancholic chorus that distinguishes from western habits. Let's turn the tables now: Do you feel our music sometimes as exotic as we feel yours?
Shinya: Difficult. We notice that bands in America and Europe mostly remain true to their style. Heavy bands stay heavy, soft stays soft - the whole time - while our music stylistically is much more versatile. I believe that's the main difference between our music cultures.

Does that mean you think our music is boring, cause it's fixed on a style?
Toshiya: (hesitating) Yes, actually in some way. Anyway there are many exceptions. But we don't wanna sound like Rammstein who always just sounds like Rammstein, or like other western bores. We have higher demands.
---------------------------------

I like the interview except the last comment. They always just sound like diru to me but I love it and I dont know if they have heard all the western bands to say they are boring *shrugs*. And thats kinda weird that they dont get along with any other jrock bands but they seem to get along really well with the western bands here.

anyway what do you all think?

[paper_doll]

Thanks for the interview

And zomg they're coming back.

[Sakura_Genki]

Yaay ! They're playing a gig in London and I so want to go.

[sexysaucestar]

Originally Posted by paper_doll

Thanks for the interview

And zomg they're coming back.

They're coming back to North America? o_o When? o_o (been under a rock lately...)

[paper_doll]

^ I posted the dates here. I think I may have missed some dates, the list should be up here anyways.

Sakura Genki, are you going?

[Sakura_Genki]

I hope I can. I have to persuade my mom to let me go first. She gets really overprotective sometimes.

[sexysaucestar]

Originally Posted by paper_doll

^ I posted the dates here. I think I may have missed some dates, the list should be up here anyways.

Sakura Genki, are you going?

Ooh I see (completely missed that update); man, the closest date for me will be LA...hmm, not sure if I will have a job by then and if I could actually go to that show....

Thanks for the information!!

[Miku]

I want a new single

[mannie]

Me tooo!!!!
Marrow of A Bone was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Itzpapalotl]

I've been a Dir en Grey fan since around later 90s/2000, can't remember. You know, back when it was even harder to find stuff about j-pop/rock. It's a lot easier now, and should be getting better =D They're my absolute favorite band. I remember when I was in junior high everyone thought I was weird cuz I didn't listen to American mainstream music =X.

ANYWAY, the point is, I just about peed my pants when I found out they were touring in America. I was able to get tickets and go w/ my boyfriend and my friends. It was........... awesome

There wasn't many people at the one I went to, which I had mixed feelings about. I was sad because they need more fans in America, I was happy because I could actually SEE them! I could have gotten closer and seen Kyo up close but I didn't want to get mixed up in the group of people *isn't a people person*. I was able to get the tour t-shirt (which I'm wearing), a bumper sticker, wristband, Agitated Screams of Maggots single, postcard, and the Marrow of a Bone album.

I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging I just have never had that opportunity before. I hope more people get to see them now that they're touring in America and Canada =D

[paper_doll]

It's been a while...

Anyone going to see them in the US or Europe this summer?

[sexysaucestar]

^ I'll be seeing them in San Francisco next month Yay!

[paper_doll]

Only 4 days left for me. Excitement!

And... Die's like.. blonde now O_O

[sexysaucestar]

^ WAIT...what??! o_O He's blonde?! No way! Pictures?? (eep sorry for my fangirlness)

Whee~ let us know how the concert goes ^o^ I can't wait to go see them again, but too bad I won't be going with a friend this time Just going alone.....

Btw, slightly off-topic, but are the Deftones any good? I don't know much about them since I keep my head buried in Jmusic these days...

[paper_doll]

It's not really as blonde as people have been making it out to sound D: I just saw pictures now: here.

I can't wait, either. Last time was so great

I personally love Deftones. Their White Pony album's one of my favourite overall albums. They've been around for a long time, but still put out really good music and are great live <3 But, that's just my opinion...